Week 3: If You Are Reading This, Then It Is Too Late

 

 I have been receiving journals and diaries as presents since I was young. Of course, I wrote about the latest hot topics, who I had a crush on and my hurt or anger towards many life events. The thought of burning my journals or diaries is so therapeutic for me. I understand the turmoil others would go through if someone read their personal pages of loneliness or grief. For myself, I have burned many pages as a child because I enjoyed the sudden rush of relief. Those pages were holding me back and there truly is not a reason to hold on to so much pain or innocence middle school slang.

 When I read over my old journals I get a since of empowerment because I am no longer stuck in the bout of depression. I also enjoy just combing over what a typical day was for me back then and comparing it to how my lifestyle is today. I have nothing to hide so I would not mind anyone finding my journals and reading them. Yes, it would be invasion of privacy, but I refuse to give anyone that much leverage over my own thoughts and feelings. The purpose of a journal is to document and release anything that speaks to you and put it on paper. If you are reading my journal than it is probably to late to burn it. I have given permission to my sister to do what she wants with my journals and diaries that just sit in storage if I am incapable to do so. This prompt has made me ask myself why was I playing with fire at such a young age and why did not anyone stop me?

Comments

  1. 4THELOVEJanuary 31, 2021 at 4:58 PM

    Both of your reasons to keep and to burn are super valid. If burning them gives you a relief after stressing then it’s good. Diving in your past to see how daily life was for you is satisfying as well. I do the same with old school notes that I took. My expectations of what life would be as an adult and what it really is now is comical. My young self was pretty ambitious. It’s good that you are close enough with your sister to give her some control over your journals.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Wadering WiterFebruary 1, 2021 at 5:09 PM

      Yes, adult life today is very much different than what i also imagine.

      Delete
  2. AetherJanuary 31, 2021 at 6:03 PM

    How brave to burn so young. I've thought about burning them but I do not ever do it because I worry about burning something that I may want to look back on. Are there any memories you wish you hadn't burned?

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    Replies
    1. The Wadering WiterFebruary 1, 2021 at 5:11 PM

      No there aren't because what's important too me i already have a piece in my heart. I also have a great memory so that helps.

      Delete
  3. notmynameFebruary 1, 2021 at 8:43 AM

    YES!! I agree with what you said so much. I think looking back on your old journals/diaries can be so great for you because you can see how far you've come from the time in your life that you were writing about. I can also see why burning your journals can also be super helpful as well. I think choosing to write all of your deepest, darkest secrets, your hopes and dreams, whatever you are dealing with, can really help. Putting them on paper (or a word document or whatever it may be), getting the thoughts out there is so good for your mental health and then burning them can be freeing. But, I personally feel like I would not want those to be gone forever. I would want to be able to look back and reflect on it. I would want people to read these things when I am gone so they can get an understanding of what was going on in that moment with me. Definitely good points/reasons to burn or not to burn. I really think it depends on the person, the situation, the information written down, the reason why the journals were made. It is all personal preference in the end. I also wondered how you got away with playing with fire at a young age, but at least it didn't end badly. I have to go with the comment above me, do you ever wish you hadn't done it? I feel like I would wonder about the details in those journals and how I would love to look back on them.

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    Replies
    1. The Wadering WiterFebruary 1, 2021 at 5:18 PM

      I don't wonder about the details of old journals or wish i didn't burn them because i am okay with it. i have made peace with that and i hope others can one day do the same no matter how they decide to handle their diaries.

      Delete

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